England vs Australia World Cup score: England chase down 224 to win
Follow LIVE reaction as England beat Australia in the Cricket World Cup semi-finals at Edgbaston to set up a meeting with New Zealand in Sunday's final
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.England swaggered into their first World Cup final in 27 years, blowing away rivals Australia by eight wickets in a magnificent display of attacking cricket that sets up a winner-takes-all date with New Zealand at Lord's.
The three-times runners-up are now firm favourites to land the trophy for the first time on Sunday, having thrashed the Black Caps by 119 runs in the group stage, and head to the home of cricket on the back of a sensational performance at Edgbaston. Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer and Adil Rashid performed wonders with the ball after Australia chose to bat first, reducing the visitors to 14 for three in a frenzied opening burst and ultimately restricting them to a lacklustre 223 all out.
England would have been mindful that they were bowled out for 221 and beaten by the same attack last month, but Jason Roy missed that game with a torn hamstring and his brilliant 85 put the game beyond a shellshocked Australia, who went down with 107 balls remaining.
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load
Having already thrashed nine fours and five sixes, he would surely have gone on to a career-best hundred had he not been robbed in messy circumstances. Given caught behind despite making no contact with the ball, he instantly called for a review only to belatedly realise Jonny Bairstow had already used it up.
Roy lost his cool, remonstrating on the pitch and on his reluctant walk off, and needed soothing words from umpire Marais Erasmus to stop things getting worse.
The sour tone of his dismissal cannot detract from his outstanding efforts, which almost single-handedly banished England's concerns about chasing, nor from the raucous celebrations which followed on the back of a decisive stand of 79 between Joe Root (49no) and Eoin Morgan (45no).
Archer and Woakes also excelled, taking two for 32 and three for 20, while Rashid bagged three scalps in his best display to date.
12.0 - Aus 29-3, A Carey 9, S Smith 6, B Stokes 0-1 (1.0)
Good start from Stokes, one off the over but more importantly his lines were tight and his lengths good. England continue to build the pressure on the two batsmen.
Mark Wood is coming into the attack.
12.2 - Aus 31-3, A Carey 9, S Smith 7, M Wood 0-2 (0.2)
He starts with a wide then a full ball. Both outside of off stump and both balls swing. Carey tries to send the ball through cover but plays and misses.
12.4 - Aus 35-3, A Carey 10, S Smith 7, M Wood 0-4 (0.4)
Fantastic fielding from England, first Woakes at fine leg sprints around the boundary and stops the ball hitting the rope by a finger tip.
Then Stokes at backward point, leaps to his right and gets a hand to the ball saving a boundary.
13.0 - Aus 36-3, A Carey 10, S Smith 7, M Wood 0-5 (1.0)
Wood was slightly wayward in that over but he may just need time to find his line and length.
13.2 - Aus 41-3, A Carey 11, S Smith 11, B Stokes 0-6 (1.2)
FOUR! Smith gets on top of the bounce and pulls Stokes away to the boundary. That's his first four of the innings and England won't be fully comfortable until he's back in the hutch.
14.0 - Aus 45-3, A Carey 11, S Smith 15, B Stokes 0-10 (2.0)
A couple of two's end the 14th over. Alex Carey's cut has been causing him problems and the medical staff have wrapped a bandage around his head.
15.0 - Aus 47-3, A Carey 12, S Smith 16, M Wood 0-7 (2.0)
A couple of Mark Woods's second over and that'll be drinks.
15.1 - Aus 51-3, A Carey 12, S Smith 20, L Plunkett 0-4 (0.1)
50 up for Australia, Liam Plunkett replaces Ben Stokes and bowls at Steve Smith. It's full and trailing into the pads, Smith waits and punts it down the ground for four.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments